Development and validation of a multidimensional scale for sexual harassment bystander intervention in the workplace

Since the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment in the workplace has been attracting increasing scholarly interest. Specifically, researchers have been calling for more investigation and attention on workplace sexual harassment bystander intervention, which is critical for curbing workplace sexual harassment and mitigating the detrimental effects of sexual harassment on victims’ well-being. However, there lacks a clear conceptualization, an advanced framework, and a validated scale to understand and capture bystanders’ different intervention behaviors when they observe sexual harassment in the workplace. In my dissertation, I highlight the reasons why empirical research on bystander intervention needs a more advanced framework and propose a six-dimension conceptualization for bystander intervention in workplace sexual harassment, which includes confronting, distracting, instrumental support, emotional support, reporting, and speaking up. Further, I developed and validated a scale for it by conducting an in-depth interview (Sample 1, N = 35), a content validity test (Sample 2, N = 15), a survey based on hypothetical scenarios (Sample 3a, N = 320; Sample 3b, N = 98), and a survey on employees’ actual intervention behaviors in their workplace (Sample 4a, N = 362; Sample 4b, N = 273). Based on evidence across samples, I adjusted the six-dimension conceptualization to a five-dimension one, which encompasses confronting, distracting, supporting, reporting, and speaking up. Results demonstrated that the five-factor structure fits better than all alternative models and the scale showed high reliability, content validity, and convergent validity with the prior intervention measure. In addition, the scale demonstrated discriminant validity with other prosocial and proactive behaviors at work, and nomological network validity with organizational and bystander factors as well as important intervention consequences. Cumulatively, my dissertation develops a reliable and validated measure to advance scholarly understanding of sexual harassment bystander intervention in the workplace.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Res & Industrial Rels

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2022

Author dc:creator

• Liang, Yijue

Contributors dc:contributor

• Park, YoungAh
• Liu, Yihao
• Restubog, Simon
• Drasgow, Fritz

• Sexual harassment bystander intervention
• scale development

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2022 Yijue Liang

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115696

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F115696